Hishamuddin Abdul Karim today said the proof of PAS’ determination to oust BN from ruling the country lay in the party’s refusal to forgive the government for violently crushing its supporters in Memali in November 1985.
The Tepoh assemblyman said PAS would never forgive Umno and BN for causing its members to be “sacrificed” in the incident where police laid siege around an Islamic sect with about 400 followers in the village of Memali near Baling in Kedah.
The confrontation led to the deaths of 14 villagers and four policemen, with numerous others suffering injuries. Many of the cult members, who followed charismatic preacher Ibrahim Mahmud, popularly known as Ibrahim Libya, were arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA)
Ibrahim, a local PAS leader who contested unsuccessfully for the party in two general elections, was also killed in the incident.
“We want to tell our rivals who are accusing us of being scared of fighting the BN government that we made history in this world by having the Memali soil flow with the blood of heroes in the fight against Umno and BN,” Hishamuddin said.
He also pointed to another incident at Lubuk Merbau in Kubang Pasu, Kedah, in January 1985 when a group of PAS supporters was attacked by machete-wielding assailants during campaigning for the Padang Terap state by-election.
One PAS member died in the incident which was followed by an Umno-BN victory in the election.
“We also want to tell those who consider us to be cowards that the blood of PAS members flowed on the earth in Lubuk Merbau,” he said at the PAS muktamar (general assembly) held at the Kedah PAS complex in Kota Sarang Semut, Kedah, today.
In his speech, Hishamuddin also criticised PH leaders who accused PAS of taking money from controversial sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
He said these same leaders remained silent over alleged scandals committed by their own colleagues in the coalition.
He said PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, who on April 13 named former PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa as having allegedly received 1MDB funds, had remained silent when DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was charged for corruption in June last year.
Lim, who is Penang chief minister, was charged at the Penang High Court with using his public office or position to allegedly obtain gratification for himself and his wife over a land conversion decision and the purchase of a bungalow at below the market rate.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2014/03/31/pas-re-open-memali-case/